Hernandez Govan recently sat down with No Jumper to share untold stories from his past, including his longtime relationship with Houston rapper Lil Flip and the infamous beef with T.I. that shaped a pivotal moment in Southern hip-hop history.
Govan explained that his connection with Flip began through mutual loyalty and hospitality. After meeting Flip in Los Angeles through a woman known as Miss Grace, who was deeply connected to Houston’s music scene, Govan and Flip built a bond that quickly turned into a brotherhood. “Ever since then, you know, we was locked in. That was my little brother, and he still is my little brother,” Govan said.
Govan also gave his firsthand account of the night T.I. and Lil Flip’s crews clashed, which ended with a stolen chain and fueled their public feud. According to Govan, Flip received a call warning him that T.I. was heading to Cloverland, Flip’s neighborhood, to “look for this fake gangster.” Flip and his crew, including Govan, decided to confront T.I., leading to a heated altercation. “My partner ended up hitting T.I. in the face, and a big brawl ensued. In the midst of it, we ended up with the chain,” Govan recalled. He made it clear that his loyalty was with Flip alone, saying, “At the time, Flip was my little brother. I wasn’t cool with T.I. at all, so that’s who I was rolling with.”
While many people view the beef as a turning point where T.I. surged ahead and derailed Flip’s career, Govan pushed back on that narrative. He acknowledged that T.I.’s rise was meteoric, but said Flip continued to move forward with shows and tours. The biggest blow, Govan explained, came from other rappers—particularly those in Houston—siding with T.I., which hurt Flip’s public image.
“It’s all a popularity contest at the end of the day,” Govan said. “When people start viewing you like you’re the op that got beat by the new hot rapper, that can be a tough narrative to beat.” Still, he praised Flip’s resilience as a hustler who “figured it out” and kept pushing forward.
Despite years of ups and downs, Govan stressed that his relationship with Flip remains strong. He described moments where Flip’s father, Big West, would lock them in a room to resolve disputes, underscoring the deep family ties between them. Even when Govan faced serious legal trouble, Flip was one of the first people he called after being indicted on murder charges.
While he didn’t consider himself Flip’s “protector,” Govan admitted his presence likely prevented several dangerous situations, especially during tense moments with fans and rivals. “I wouldn’t call it saving his life,” he said. “I would just call it standing on business.”
Source: No Jumper
